TUSCALOOSA, Alabama
— The Alabama defense took some heat as late-season lapses led to losses.

The secondary took
its share of criticism as injuries and inconsistency took a toll. Texas A&M
and LSU took advantage to put up some big passing numbers, but not enough to
win games. So the deck was shuffled.

First-year
defensive backs coach Greg Brown left after the season for a similar job at
Louisville. Three players who started, HaHa Clinton-Dix, Vinnie Sunseri and
Deion Belue are preparing for the NFL, so there's opportunity for the unit
coached by defensive coordinator Kirby Smart and Nick Saban.

The
readers
of AL.com certainly like Landon Collins. It's hard to argue with those
results as the former 5-star recruit lived up to the hype. Like so many, he
worked his way up through special teams as a big hitter. Even as a starter at
safety, Collins was the most active down-field tackler on punt and
kickoff return teams.

But
he'll be more important on defense in his junior year. The starting strong
safety after Sunseri tore his ACL against Arkansas, Collins was very active in
the secondary. He intercepted two passes including the one he ran 89 yards for
a touchdown against Tennessee.

At
6-foot-1, 215 pounds, he brings the most bulk among safeties in the Alabama
defense. Hits bring a little extra punch with Collins, but his speed isn't
diminished. His ability to lead will also become a factor with Clinton-Dix and
Sunseri going pro.

THE RISING STAR

Few
players had the playing time-to-discussion piece ration quite like Eddie
Jackson last year. As a true freshman, he started early-season games against
Colorado State, Ole Miss and Georgia State before heading back to the bench.
His grasp on the playbook appeared to be the biggest issue while he also dealt
with a few nagging injuries.

But
things started clicking late in the year. He began working with the first team
again as Sugar Bowl preparations progressed. Jackson earned that fourth start
against the Sooners in New Orleans and made 10 of his 16 freshman-year tackles.
He got beat on a deep pass that set up the touchdown to put Oklahoma up two
touchdowns.

Still,
his long arms and speed make him the kind of cornerback Nick Saban likes to develop
at Alabama. Having an offseason and spring to master the playbook will be huge
for Jackson.

THE WILD CARD

The
transition for cornerback to safety took about a year. Now former 5-star Geno
Smith has come out the other side with a real shot at making noise at safety.
He saw some playing time last year and made a huge pass breakup late in the
Mississippi State game. The depth chart had him behind Clinton-Dix at free
safety, so he'll figure to be the guy to beat as the spring begins.

He
also shared time with Jarrick Williams at the Star position, so there are
multiple opportunities. At 186 pounds, Smith could stand to bulk up a little
since Clinton-Dix played the position at 208 pounds a year ago.

THE NEW GUY

There
are two big-name cornerbacks in this year's class, but Tony Brown is in
Tuscaloosa for the spring and Marlon Humphrey is not. So he'll have a head
start, and with a 5-star reputation and track speed, Brown will have a shot to
work into the rotation.

The
graduation of Belue and inconsistency at the other corner could help make Brown
a factor. He has the size (6-feet, 195 pounds) and the speed to make him a
rising star on the Tide track team as well. Last spring, he won the Texas 4A
state championship in the 110-meter hurdles after being ranked as high as the
No. 2 cornerback in the country.

Will
he start in Year 1? That's not easy in Alabama's complicated defense. But he'll
have more time in the program than Humphrey in the friendly competition for
playing time.

THE FACT

Alabama
had six different players start games at cornerback in 2013 and just three in
the 2012 national title run. Last year's defense ranked No. 26 in
pass-efficiency (116.84), while the 2012 group was seventh (103.7)

THE QUOTE

"The
thing about the freshmen that I think people have a hard time understanding --
I don't even think the freshmen understand -- none of these guys have played
under the ... what it takes from an intensity standpoint, a mental focus
standpoint, week in and week out to prepare for a game and be able to go out
and execute in a game," he said. "I call it casual. They're so casual
about how they go about things because they don't know any better. It's not
because they want to be or intend to be, but they've just never done it any
other way. They've never had to pay attention to detail, they've never had to
study film and say, 'OK, when they get in a bunch pass, what are they going to
do?' ... They just think they're going to line up and cover the guy.
Technique's not important because that's what they've always been able to do."